What does per se mean?

What does per se mean?

• A. Means 'in itself'
• B. Means 'by chance'
• C. Means 'as a result'
• D. Means 'for the sake of law'

Answer: (A)

Per se means in itself. It’s a Latin phrase used to flag that something is true or illegal by its very nature, without needing to look at additional factors. In legal contexts, you often see phrases like “negligence per se” or “a per se violation,” which signal that the act or condition is inherently wrongful or prohibited simply because of the statute or rule defining it. For example, a per se violation of antitrust law is illegal in and of itself, regardless of other circumstances. The other options don’t fit because they describe chance, consequence, or a purpose of law, none of which capture the intrinsic sense of “in itself.”

Per se means in itself. It’s a Latin phrase used to flag that something is true or illegal by its very nature, without needing to look at additional factors. In legal contexts, you often see phrases like “negligence per se” or “a per se violation,” which signal that the act or condition is inherently wrongful or prohibited simply because of the statute or rule defining it. For example, a per se violation of antitrust law is illegal in and of itself, regardless of other circumstances. The other options don’t fit because they describe chance, consequence, or a purpose of law, none of which capture the intrinsic sense of “in itself.”